Well it was something of a bumpy lead in to my trip. Estimating the time tasks are likely to take isn't really my strongest suit. My general strategy is start as early as possible, and go as hard as you can until it all gets done. So for the last two days I've just been flat stick- packing up the flat, getting myself and pumpkin organised and working through a pretty big 'to do' list. And it turns out that the strategy was pretty well spot on, because I've gone at full pace for two days and literally JUST gotten everything done in time.

It was eight pm by the time I was dropping Pumpkin off to Justin and Shel, and I'd had a few drinks with Dave who's subbing my flat, so the brain was basically off. I mentioned to Justin that I still hadn't worked out transport to the airport. He said, "Nah mate, it's cool, I fly out at a bit after seven. You just be out front of your on seven, shel will drop you to Varsity station, grab the express to the international airport, it's about thirty bucks, and you'll be sweet!" Well ok. He sounded like he knew what he was talking about, and it was a relief to have one less thing to think about. Just be out front at seven. That I could do.

Not so happy when the alarm went off, but all went to plan in terms of the pick up and before I knew it I was on the train headed for briny. It was at about the thirty minute mark into the journey that I started to do the math. I wasn't going to get there by check in close. f***.

I tried calling Pacific Air and got some dude in Fiji who was just basically like, "Ether you get there in time or you forfeit your ticket. The train pulled in at Beenleigh station. I had to try and work out what to do. If I stayed on the train I just wasn't going to get there in time, it was that simple. If I jumped off....I had no idea what my chances were. It was 8:30 am, peak hour. The train paused a moment longer, a hiss coming out from the underside of the carriage. I made a snap decision and leapt from my seat as the announcer called out "Stand clear, doors closing." I jammed my backpack into the door, forcing it open and leapt out onto the platform.

There was a taxi rank to the right of the station, but no cabs. f***ing f***! I looked at my watch. I had 45 mins to get from Beenleigh to the International terminal in peak hour. f***! I saw a take van passing across the street and let out a wolf whistle so loud that half the neighbourhood turned to look. The cab put on his indicator and swung in to collect me. I yanked the door open and asked the Indian driver, "Can you have me at the international terminal in 45 minutes?" He didn't even hesitate. "Get in!!". I threw my bags in and myself on top of them.

The ride to the airport was spent mostly in the emergency stopping lane. This dude drove like a f***ing maniac all the way. The entire trip it just didn't look possible that we would get there in time. But no s***, through sheer determination and a complete disregard for the law, this guy got me there with one minute to spare. A hundred and twenty bucks later (20 was a tip) I approached the arrivals counter for Air Pacific.

The guy at the desk looked up languidly. "It's oooorrrrright" he breathed. "You'll make it". Twenty minutes later I was sitting on the plane, bound for Fiji. Not quite the relaxed start to my holiday I was hoping for, but definitely a damn sight better than buying another ticket.

My six hours in Fiji have been extremely chilled out. I caught a cab to a beachside backpackers and hung out and drunk beer. Everything is sooooooo expensive here! 16 bucks for a salad! 10 for a bucket of fries. Crazy. I take off for LA in about 50 minutes and you know what? I reckon I'll sleep the whole way :)